Gigantic NYC Reviews and Tickets

"The energetic, first-rate cast under the fast-paced direction of Scott Schwartz makes the material seem better than it is. This is one of the few teen musicals in which the characters actually sound like modern youth...'Gigantic' has no pretentions as to being anything but an entertaining musical comedy on a subject not so often handled in the theater. An authentic cast convincingly playing teenagers plus a dynamic score makes this a feel-good musical evening in the theater."
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"I can't say that the creators efforts to unearth fresh, fizzy humor from the cliches of bunk house life captivated me as much as some of the people around me…The show as much as the kids at Camp Overton needs to be slimmed down. Scott Schwartz smoothly directs the frantic doings but at two hours plus intermission, there's just too much fat…The music is catchy but hardly memorable enough to justify so much of it that you could almost describe 'Gigantic' as a sung-through."
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"The themes of 'Gigantic' are not revolutionary, and when the show’s book deals with these clichés, its weakest points reveal themselves. It’s a shame because these weaknesses are even more heavily emphasized by their contrast to the show’s moments of complete and utter hilarity...Despite the weak moments in the script and score, there is nothing weak about this cast, and having the privilege to watch their magic on the stage is a gigantic pleasure."
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"What the musical lacks is a way of synthesizing this humor, singing, and great character work into an actual theatrical event. Don’t get me wrong, it is ridiculously entertaining. I made a fool of myself laughing and smiling through the whole thing, but despite it’s plot, it lacks story. Not that this lacking kills the show."
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"'Gigantic’s' propulsive if mostly generic-sounding rock score leads us through a plot that is an accumulation of stock scenes running the gamut from juvenile to sophomoric, with an occasional detour into sentimental…For all its easy superficiality, it offers what one senses are some hard-earned observations about life as an adolescent in general…The best thing about 'Gigantic' is the opportunity it gives to performers with out-sized talents and regular-people bodies."
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"A bigger-than-life look at self-acceptance and adolescent angst…That’s a lot of purposeful name dropping, which is to say that musically speaking, 'Gigantic' doesn’t necessarily score big in the originally department. But what speaks volumes is the show’s construct and wildly talented cast…'Gigantic' is great fun, due mostly to a committed cast that relishes the material."
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"The book is not cohesive. There are moments in this show where you wonder where this musical number came from, other than the fact that it’s hilarious? The pop-rock score is tuneful, but not memorable. Scott Schwartz direction is energetic and fun. Chase Brock’s choreography is pedestrian. What creates this show is it’s youthful driven cast...Gigantic will appeal to a lot of people, especially teens that are struggling with who they are."
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"The antics at a summer camp for overweight teenagers are a slender thread for a full-evening musical. During the second act, the authors try frantically to liven things up with a production number featuring life-size dancing animals that bear no relation to anything else in the show...The energetic, appealing cast give it their all...The music is generic pop-rock…Too bad the the quality of the material does not match the high level of the production."
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